Enclosed switchgear with adjustable panel



Dec. 12, 1950 B. vo ovsKo 2,533,645

ENCLOSED SWITCHGEAR WITH ADJUSTABLE PANEL Filed Sept. 11, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 4 l 111 I l l i kzflzz u E I: l 17 A? I l a. J

2 l LJ 1 w m 3 as 24 so Mama/g Dec. 12, 1950 B. VOLGOVSKOY V ENCLOSED SWITCHGEAR WITH ADJUSTABLE PANEL 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Sept. 11, 1948 switch shown diagrammatically in disconnected position; nd

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of a mdification of the invention wherein the switch control handle is mounted on the door panel and is connected to the switch. operating mechanism only when the switch is in normal operating position.

Referring more particularly to the drawing by characters of reference, Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically the conventional arrangement of low voltage metal enclosed switchgear wherein cubicles II, l2 and I3 constitute a vertical bay of individual enclosing chambers in which are separately housed current interrupters or switches generally designated l4, l5 and 16. The switches l4, l5 and I6 are movably supported in cubicles H, l2, l3 by any suitable known means, such as pairs of conventional pantographs 18. The pantographs are pivotally attached at 2! to the upright members 22 of the switchgear Support framework. Each individual switch may be withdrawn bodily from its normal operating position, shown at [4, to its intermediate or test position, shown at I6, and finally to its disconnected position, shown at l5, by suitable known 7 drawout means such as a screw 23 threaded through depending portion 24 of the frame I! which supports the switch.

Screw 23 may be rotated by means of a crank, fitted for detachable connection to a squared portion 25 of the screw 23 accessible from the front of the individual cubicles H, 12 and I3 whereby each separate switch unit may be bodily shifted on its pantograph into or out of selective engagement with the primary contacts 26 and the auxiliary contacts 21 which are mounted and aligned at the rear of the switch and cubicle for sliding frictional contact. The busses shown in general at 23 complete the circuits to the operating equipment.

Each of the cubicles is provided with a front shielding panel 32 which serves to complete the enclosure formed by the cubicle side walls. The construction and function of the panel 32 will be later herein described.

The entire switchgear may be further enclosed by an outer weatherproof housing 29 which is provided with front doors 3!; and rear doors 3!! to permit access to each bay of cubicles and their associated busses. Although a bay consistll'l-g of three cubicles is shown, it is to be understood that the invention is equall applicable to any greater or lesser number of cubicles arranged multiply or individually.

The operating mechanism of the switches l4, l5 and it may be actuated in several different ways. Manual operation is effected through a handle 3! which may be either mounted directly on the frontispiece 34 of the switch, as best shown in cubicle $3 in Fig. 1, thus projecting through aperture 33 in the door panel, or On the door panel 32 which encloses each individual switch, as best shown in Fig. 5. In the latter case the mechanism is provided with a shaft 52 for operative connection with the handle 3| when the panel 32 is closed in certain selected switch positions. The switch may also be actuated remotely as by a solenoid, or the like, made integral with the switch and electrically connected to the remote control equipment through some of the auxiliary contacts21 mounted at the rear of the switch.

The withdrawal of the, switch into its test position, shown at I B, will disengage the primary contacts 26 while leaving the auxiliary contacts 21 still engaged, whereby the remotely controlled operation of the switch may be tested without having any effect upon the disengaged power circuit. The withdrawal of the switch into its disconnected position, as shown at I5, will disengage the auxiliar contacts 21 as well as the primary contacts 26, thus rendering the switch completely isolated electrically from the busses. shown generally at 28, and permitting the removal for exchange or repair of the switch. When the switch is in normal operating position, as shown at M, both the primary contacts 26 and secondary contacts 21 are en aged for normal operation of the switch.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the closed shielding door panel 32 via aperture 33 complements the frontispiece 34 of the switch in enclosing completely the energized portions of the switchgear both for the purpose of protecting operating personnel from accidental flashovers and the like, and in maintaining optimum atmospheric surroundings for the proper mechanical and electrical operation of the switching equipment. In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the panel alone performs the described shielding functions.

Heretofore, with a panel supported on the side wall of each individual cubicle by a single fixed position hinge, it was necessary to swing the panel into an open position in order to withdraw the switch to either its test or disconnected position. The panel could not then be reclosed because of physical interference with the withdrawn switch structure. With the door thus opened and projecting through the plane of the weatherproof outer housing door, it was impossible to close the outer housing door while any of the individual switches were in a withdrawn position. This situation was undesirable in that the switch mechanism was thus exposed to the elements and the operating personnel was no longer protected.

The present invention overcomes these undesirable features by providin that the panel 32 remain in switch enclosing relationship in several of the various selected positions of the switch, either operating or withdrawn. In conformance with the present invention, the panel 32 is mounted in such a manner that it may be made to travel in accordance with the movements of the switch into various selected switch positions and thus maintain approximately a switch enclosing relationship in such selected positions. I For this purpose the panel 32 is supported by a double hinge arrangement whichconsists of a fixed position hinge 3! attached to side wall 35, a movable hinge 4! parallel to hinge 31 and fixed along an edge of panel 32, and a leaf 38 joining the two hinges. Leaf 38 may be fastened to one of the straps of each of hinges 31, 4| or may constitute the hinge straps to form piano hinges. With the switch in normal operating position, as indicated in Fig. 2, panel 32 seats against sills 42 and 43. Sill 43 is tapped at, 4,4 for threaded connection with bolt 45 which is positioned near the free edge of panel 32 and provided with a knurled outer portion 45 for detachably securing panel 32 to sill 43. A stable positioning of the panel is insured by the additional contact of hinge 4| against sill 42.

In order to maintain such switch enclosing relationshlp when it is desiredto withdraw the switch to either test or disconnected position, the

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When the manualioperatinggmechanism: is-iof thfesitypetwherleinatheiihandle 3| is rotatably mounted on the frontispiec 34 and projects through the aperture fi--provided therefore in ena e ame t e sw tch-ism, M t-Q iQasc handle may not be capable of ta n -beeause of the interierence with the edgesof such aperture, as sho'whdirFi-g's. 1 and 3 '(at cubicle 13).

If ds-i-iied, however, the :aperture may be made handle ithpnha-ihterference .with athe. epera-tio'n 'ge ith the'zswitch 4 in .test or other iwithdfawnlposion.

:Ethe ;mitial. construction. of athe. idoubleu hinged panel and will necessitate an initial determ nation of distance between sill 43 and butt plate 41 and also sill 42, fixed hinge 3! and the length 7 of the leaf 38.

TIIGfZtYDBOi .operation.desired.= .will fdetermi'ne the switch ci elements 11 1 .0 int nt; p rm s, e;

ins ad. 0 75136 1 0.: be gteclos d more of the switches h F -aas i. hi e cenec ed'pe he .i bl hinge :P filqnmfifili said first position into another switch nelosin position, thereby releasing said switch from said energized position and providing for unrestricted movement of said switch into said deenergized position.

3. In drawout type switchgear, the combination comprising: a cubicle, a switch, means movably mounted within said cubicle for supporting said switch, means for actuating said supporting means to bodily shift said switch from an energized position into a plurality of other positions, a panel supported in a first position for enclosing at least a part of said switch in said energized position and preventing movement of said switch out of said energized position, and means for moving said panel from said first position into another switch enclosing position to release said switch from said energized position and provide .for unrestricted movement of said switch into any one of said other positions.

4. In drawout type switchgear, the combination comprising: a cubicle having a wall, a switch,

means movably mounted within said cubicle for supporting said switch, means for actuating said supporting means to bodily shift said switch from an energized position into a plurality of other positions, a swingable shielding panel supported in a first position for enclosing at least a part of said switch in said energized position, and means for moving said panel from said first position into a second switch enclosing position to release said switch from its energized position and provide for unrestricted movement of said supporting means to move said switch into one of said other positions, said means for moving said panel comprising a fixed position hinge attached to said cubicle wall and a movable hinge attached to said panel and connected to and rotatable about the axis of said fixed position hinge.

5. In drawout type switchgear, the combination comprising: a cubicle having a wall, a switch, means movably mounted within said cubicle for supporting said switch, means for actuating said supporting means to bodily shift said switch from an energized position into a plurality of other positions, a swingable shielding panel supported in a first position for enclosing at least a part of said switch in said energized position, and means for moving said panel into a second switch enclosing position to release said switch from its energized position and provide for unrestricted movement of said supporting means to move said switch into one of said other positions, said means for moving said panel comprising a fixed position hinge attached to said cubicle wall and a movable hinge attached to said panel and connected to and rotatable about the axis of said fixed position hinge, said panel when moved into said second position enclosing said part of said switch during movement of said switch from said energized position into any one of said other positions.

6. In drawout type switchgear, the combination comprising: a cubicle, a switch, means movably mounted within said cubicle for supporting said switch, means for actuating said supporting means to bodily shift said switch from an energized position into another position, manual control means for actuating said switch, a shielding panel supported in a first position for enclosing the energized portions of said switch, said panel having an aperture in the panel face through which said manual control means projects when said switch is in energized position, and means for moving said panel from said first position into another switch enclosing position before movement of said switch into its other position, said manual switch control means being positioned within said aperture when said switch is in said other position to prevent actuation of said manual switch control means. 1

7. In drawout type switchgear, the combination comprising; a cubicle, a switch, means movably mounted within said cubicle'for supporting said iii switch, means for actuating said supporting means to bodily shift said switch through a plurality of positions, a swingable shielding panel supported in a first position for enclosing at least a part of said switch, means for locking said panel in said first position, means for moving said panel into a second switch enclosing position, said panel moving means comprising a fixed position hinge attached to said cubicle and a' movable hinge attached to said panel and connected to and rotatable about the axis of said fixed position hinge, and means for locking said panel in said second position comprising a butt plate positioned on said cubicle for detachable seating connection with said panel when in looking position and hinged for holding against said cubicle when in unlocking position.

8. In drawout type switchgear, the combination comprising; a cubicle, a switch, means movably mounted within said cubicle for supporting said switch, means for actuating said supporting means to bodily shift said switch from an energized position to a predetermined deenergized position, a shielding panel supported in a first 1 position for enclosing the energized portions of said switch in said energized position and lock said swtich in said energized position, manual control means for actuating said switch comprising a detachable handle mounted on said panel for actuating said manual control means, and means for moving said panel from said first position into a second switch enclosing position to thereby release said switch from said energized I position, provide unrestricted movement of said switch into said deenergized position, detach and isolate said handle from said manual control means and maintain said handle detached and isolated from said manual control means when said switch is moved from said energized position into said deenergized position.

BORIS VOLGOVSKOY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Garvin Aug. 30, 1949 

